Modern shareholder agreements are becoming essential as governance standards tighten in 2026. Discover the key updates SMEs should make now to prevent disputes before they start.
Companies House has started the phased roll out of its new powers to tackle fraud and improve the quality and reliability of its data. The new powers are part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), which received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. It aims to tackle economic crime, including fraud
Jeremy Hunt delivered his Spring Budget on 6 March, and it will probably be his last major fiscal announcement ahead of this year’s anticipated general election. With a focus on reducing tax for the working population and helping parents, there were several announcements in the Budget that affect businesses and employees which I consider and
When starting or growing a business, it’s important to consider what legal structure will give you the best chance of success. There are several options to explore, including sole proprietorship, partnership, and limited company. Each structure has its own legal considerations, liability implications, and tax obligations that should be thoroughly understood before making a decision.
A UK importer has won its claim for compensation in a dispute with a Belgian company over the supply of Covid face masks. The case involved Local Boy’z Ltd, which agreed numerous contracts with Malu NV for two types of face mask, the KN95 masks and the Type IIR masks. Both products were manufactured in
A businessman who misappropriated large sums of money from his company has been ordered to refund more than £5 million to his former partner. The case involved Ashank Patel and Mohammad Babar Iqbal, who had been partners in a property development business. After some of the projects suffered delays due to cashflow problems, Patel discovered
Athena Brands has won a contract dispute with Superdrug Stores over the supply of various cosmetic products. Athena claimed that it had entered into a binding agreement with Superdrug in an exchange of emails with one of its employees. In the course of the email exchange, Athena had asked the employee to confirm that he
An estate agent has won his claim to be paid commission after finding a buyer for several flats, even though he didn’t have a written contract with the seller. The case, that went all the way to the Supreme Court, involved the agent and a developer who was trying to sell several newly built properties.
Historically, companies were required to include an Objects clause in their Memorandums of Association. This clause sets out the purpose of the company and listed the activities that the company was able to undertake. If a company acted outside of their Objects, those actions were said to be ultra vires (i.e. acting outside of their